For Christians around the world, baptism and christening are milestone events for the family. Welcoming a newborn to the world includes having the church welcome the little one too. If you are a first-time parent, check out five of the essential things you need to know about organizing a baby christening.

1. Pay the church a visit. Your first stop, the church is where you will be briefed about the requirements and documents you must produce to have a christening registered and to have the service appropriately scheduled. A christening on a Sunday when regular service and mass are in line may not be such a good idea, unless of course you are pretty sure that your baby christening will be a prompt and brief one, and will not cause undue interruptions to countless church goers.

2. Plan thoroughly for the affair. No good comes out from just winging the occasion. Make sure you have all bases covered and have backup plans in case things do not go as expected. Remember that the christening is a two-part event. The first event is the actual christening itself which takes place inside the church. The second event is the party which takes place outside the church, to include your home, a restaurant or some other great party place.

3. Delegate your responsibilities. Making yourself a one-man team might overwhelm you and drive you to the point of exhaustion. Give yourself some breathing room. You may want select family friends or an event organizer to handle a number of matters for you such as sending invites, making reservations for the venue of the post-service celebration, planning the entertainment activities, arranging baby-sitting services, preparing the souvenirs and subcontracting a team of videographers and photographers for the documentation. Informing and asking the permission of the officiating minister for photos are requisite steps for a well-planned documentation of the christening itself.

4. Get good godparents. Christenings are incomplete without them. Choose selectively the people whom you hold important and valuable in giving guidance to your growing little one. By rule of thumb, if your tiny tot is a girl, get two god mothers and one god father for her. If your tiny tot is a boy, get two god fathers and one god mother.

5. Wear the appropriate garb. The solemnity of the occasion is as valuable as that of a wedding. If you want to closely follow the tradition, wear white clothes and have your little one wear one too. The cut should be modest and simple, although some accessorizing using pearls and beads is allowed. Even though a christening gown may look cute on your little one, you must not overlook the likely possibilities of having to handle with diaper wetting and changing. Modern christening gowns now sport detachable skirts which can be conveniently removed after the church service.

The five items on the list are just some of the essential things you should consider when planning a baby christening. Your immediate family and friends, or your chosen event organizer may have a valuable tip or two to add, so keep your ears open.